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This article aims to highlight some of the best NBA DFS Plays at every position for your cash game lineups. Keep in mind that the following player write-ups were constructed earlier in the day, and sometimes injury/rest situations can alter the fantasy landscape. Monitoring our NBA News & Headlines Feed throughout the day will keep you in the loop while giving you the subsequent DFS consequences of each information piece.
We’ll take a look at Wednesday’s 11-game slate starting at 7:00 ET.
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POINT GUARD
Jalen Brunson – Dallas (vs. LA Lakers) - DK: $6,700 / FD: $6,200 / Yahoo: $24
If you excuse one dud vs. the Nets, Brunson has been playing around 30 MPG and returning about 28 fantasy points per game. The Mavericks take on the Lakers tonight in a game with a mid-range over/under and narrow to non-existent spread. The Lakers allow the fifth-most fantasy points to point guards this season, and play at the second-highest pace in the league, a big boost for Dallas players. Brunson is a safe mid-range play with a high floor tonight.
Also Consider: Cole Anthony, Jrue Holiday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young, Tyus Jones, De’Aaron Fox, Cody Martin, Trey Burke
SHOOTING GUARD
Brandon Ingram – New Orleans (at Oklahoma City) - DK: $9,200 / FD: $8,800 / Yahoo: $34
Ingram’s salary has really come up but he’s playing fully to his potential with multiple 50-plus fantasy point lines in the last two weeks. He came near a triple-double in his last game, which is important. Even when his long-range shots aren’t falling, he’s making up for it in high volume and peripheral production. In a super-friendly matchup with the Thunder tonight, Ingram should once again be a great play. New Orleans gives up the third-most overall fantasy points to opponents, with league-best numbers against opposing SFs. They play at a higher pace than New Orleans, and rank 26th in rebounding rate. Ingram is pricey, but you can fit him pretty easily and he has as much upside as anyone tonight.
Also Consider: Derrick White, Luke Kennard, Bradley Beal, Terry Rozier, Desmond Bane
SMALL FORWARD
Terrence Ross – Orlando (vs. Atlanta) - DK: $4,100 / FD: $4,800 / Yahoo: $11
Ross’ last three games, and five of his last six, have been value-exceeding efforts. The Magic are significant underdogs vs. Atlanta tonight, but I like several of them on tonight’s slate, including Ross and Cole Anthony, if you can afford him. Ross offers the major savings I want to fit Jokic; see below. His minutes fluctuate enough to keep him cheap, but he’s been able to score, rack up steals or assists and generally do enough to yield about a fantasy point per minute. The game has a high point total and the Hawks rank 25th in defensive rating, giving up the eighth-most fantasy points to opponents. Should be a good one to draw from, especially in the bargain salary range.
Also Consider: Josh Hart, Anthony Edwards, Dillon Brooks
POWER FORWARD
Davis Bertans – Washington (at Sacramento) - DK: $3,500 / FD: $4,700 / Yahoo: $11
Speaking of bargains, Bertans has increasingly played more minutes off the bench, topping off at 31 MPG in the Wizards’ last bout in Denver. That might be a little flukey, but it was a close game and he scored 21 real points in the loss, going 5-for-9 from three-point range. I’d be less inclined to trust Bertans if the matchup with the Kings wasn’t such a good one. Sacramento plays fast, gives up the fifth-most overall fantasy points (second to opposing bigs), and ranks just 28th in defensive rating. The game has a high point total (225 points) and the Wizards are narrowly favored on the road. Bertans is certainly not without risk, but if his shot is falling, he could once again see an expanded role off the bench and his super-low salary is a key part of my build tonight.
Also Consider: Marvin Bagley III, Evan Mobley, John Collins, Kristaps Porzingis, Miles Bridges, Domantas Sabonis, Larry Nance, Jr.
CENTER
Nikola Jokic – Denver (vs. Minnesota) - DK: $12,200 / FD: $11,500 / Yahoo: $56
I think it’s a great idea to fit Jokic into lineups tonight. He hasn’t scored fewer than 62 fantasy points in the last five games, and is now averaging 60 per game. His first game vs. the Timberwolves yielded a massive 26-point, 19-rebound double-double. Tonight’s game is expected to be high-scoring and close, with the Nuggets getting a big pace bump and generous fantasy matchups, especially in the frontcourt. I always say play Jokic when you can afford him, but even on a slate with tons of options, I think he’s a priority tonight.
Also Consider: Jarrett Allen, Nikola Vucevic, Jakob Poeltl, Rudy Gobert, Clint Capela, Isaiah Hartenstein
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Jrue Holiday (PG – MIL) is a very safe G option with Giannis Antetokounmpo out and Khris Middleton a game time decision tonight. Indiana isn’t a great fantasy matchup, but Holiday isn’t a matchup-based player. He prefers a tough game and excels against teams like the Pacers. In his first matchup against them, he put up one of his best lines, totally 47 fantasy points.
Luke Kennard (SG – LAC) offers another path to salary savings. As long as Paul George is out again tonight, he should be worth the small price. The Clippers take on Utah, not a great matchup, but if he gets the minutes, he can get you 6-7X value. Coming off especially nice efforts vs. Phoenix and Orlando, Kennard hasn’t been below 20 fantasy points since the end of November.
Larry Nance, Jr. (PF – POR) is still near minimum price, but after moving into the starting lineup Sunday, has yielded 29 and 30 fantasy points. This is despite low scoring – he hasn’t made a three-point shot in four games – and only a modest increase in playing time. It’s another favorable game environment where we’re looking at a pretty high-scoring and close one. The Grizzlies rank 20th in defensive rating and give up the ninth-most overall fantasy points to opponents. Nance might not blow the roof off the slate but he should return reasonable value for the cost.
